Fencing System And Method For Assembling A Fence Panel

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a fencing system and method for assembling a fence panel. The fencing system comprises pickets, braces and rails which can be assembled into a fence panel. The fence panel can be assembled by inserting the pickets through the slots of the brace and the opening of the rails when the brace is in the unlocked position. The assembled fence panel can be locked into place by longitudinally driving the braces relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/366,690 filed Jul. 26, 2016 and 62/455,658 filed Feb. 7, 2017, each of which is incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to fences. More specifically, the invention relates to a fencing system that can be assembled into a fence panel and a method for assembling a fence panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fences come in many different styles and types and are used for a number of purposes, including decoration, ornamentation, security, and to mark boundaries.

Some fences are constructed using fencing systems composed of prefabricated components, such as pickets, pickets, and rails, which are fastened together during installation.

In order to reduce installation costs, some fencing systems have sought to simplify the assembly process and reduce or eliminate the need for fasteners in fence assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the present invention is a fencing system which can be assembled into a fence panel. The assembled fence panel can be locked into place by longitudinally driving the braces relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position.

The fencing system comprises: pickets, each picket being elongate and having one or more connecting areas; braces, each brace being elongate with a plurality of connecting portions spaced apart along the length of the brace and a slot for each connecting portion, having an unlocked position wherein one of the pickets extends through one of the slots of the brace and one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portion of the one of the slots, the slot for each connecting portion being adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the brace from the unlocked position to a locked position while the one of the pickets extends through the one of the slots of the brace wherein the one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace and aligned with the connecting portion of the one of the slots in the locked position; rails, each rail adapted to receive a brace for telescopic movement and having a plurality of openings adapted to communicate with the slots of the braces to permit through passage of the pickets and to limit longitudinal movement of the pickets; whereby a plurality of pickets, rails and braces can be assembled into a fence and the braces can be driven relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position to lock the fence panel together.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a fencing system, consisting of: telescopically inserting one or more braces into a corresponding number of rails; aligning slots in each of the braces with openings in the corresponding rail to allow insertion of pickets through the slots and the openings; inserting the pickets through the slots and the openings so that the connecting areas of the pickets are disposed within the braces in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portions of the slots and the openings limit longitudinal movement of the pickets; driving the braces in a longitudinal direction relative to the corresponding rail to bring the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots, thereby locking the pickets and braces together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a brace according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is an alternate perspective view of the brace of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a further alternate perspective view of the brace of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the brace of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a bottom and end view of the brace of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2C is a top view of the brace of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2D is a side view of the brace of FIG. 1A opposite the side of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2E is a cross-section view of the brace of FIG. 1A along cross-section 10 of FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a rail according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is an alternate perspective view of the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a further alternate perspective view of the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a bottom and end view of the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a top view of the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4C is a cross-section view of the rail of FIG. 3A along cross-section 30 of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a side and end view of a picket according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the picket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the brace of FIG. 1A aligned with the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the brace of FIG. 1A inserted into the rail of FIG. 3A with part of the rail cut away;

FIG. 7C is an end view of the brace of FIG. 1A inserted into the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 7D is a bottom view of the brace of FIG. 1A inserted into the rail of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an assembled fencing system in the unlocked position with part of the rails cut-away according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the assembled fencing system of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an assembled fencing system in the locked position with part of the braces cut-away according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of the assembled fencing system of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an assembled fencing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the fencing system of FIG. 10 disposed for use on a slope;

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away view of encircled area 12 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a view along section 13-13 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to the figures wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

The fencing system of the exemplary embodiment consists of braces 2, rails 20, and pickets 40 which can be assembled together into a fence panel. During assembly, the brace 2 is telescopically inserted into a rail 20, the opening 22 of the rail 20 and the slot 8 of the brace 2 are aligned, and then a picket 40 is inserted through the slot 8 and the opening 22. The assembly is then locked together by driving the brace 2 in a longitudinal 44 direction relative to the rail 20, thereby aligning the connecting areas 42 of the pickets 40 with the connecting portions of the brace 2, thereby locking the fence panel together.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, the brace 2 of the exemplary embodiment is elongate with a horizontal side 12 and two parallel vertical sides 14.

In the exemplary embodiment, the slot 8 of the brace 2 is on the horizontal side 12 of the brace 2. The slot 8 of the brace 2 is adapted to allow a picket 40 to pass through the slot 8 when the brace 2 is in the unlocked position, and allow the brace 2 to be moved longitudinally 44 from the unlocked to the locked position while a picket 40 is inserted through the slot 8, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B.

There is a connecting portion for each slot 8, consisting of a first protrusion 4 and a second protrusion 6 located on opposite vertical sides 14 of the brace 2. The exemplary embodiment shows two slots 8, however further slots 8 can be added to the brace 2, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 10.

In use, the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 are adapted to connect the picket 40 and brace 2 together when the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 are brought into alignment with the connecting area 42 of the picket 40, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. In the exemplary embodiment, the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 enter the holes of the connecting area 42 of the picket 40 when the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 are brought into alignment with the connecting area 42.

As seen in FIG. 2E, the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 can be formed directly into the vertical sides 14 of the brace 2. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 can be of different shape and dimension.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C, the rail 20 of the exemplary embodiment is elongate with a horizontal wall 24 and two parallel vertical walls 26. In use, the brace 2 is inserted into the rail 20, as shown in FIG. 7B. The bottom of the vertical walls 26 of the rail 20 have a lip 28 which hold the brace 2 in place when inserted into the rail 20, as can be seen in FIG. 7C.

The rail 20 has openings 22 on the horizontal wall 24 which are adapted to allow a picket 40 to pass through the rail 20 as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 9A, while minimizing any longitudinal 44 motion of the picket 40. There is an opening 22 for each slot 8 of the brace 2. The opening 22 and slot 8 can be aligned to allow the picket 40 to pass through both the opening 22 and slot 8.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a picket 40 of the exemplary embodiment. In use, the picket 40 is inserted through the slots 8 of the braces 2 and the openings 22 of the rails 20 during assembly of the fence panel.

The picket 40 of the exemplary embodiment is elongate with a rectangular cross-section and has a connecting area 42 which consists of holes on opposite sides of the picket 40. The exemplary embodiment has two connecting areas 42 located near the top and near the bottom, respectively, of the picket 40. The connecting area 42 indicates where a brace 2 can be connected to the picket 40, as shown in FIG. 9A.

Further details regarding the assembly of the exemplary embodiment are shown in FIG. 7A to FIG. 10.

FIG. 7A shows the brace 2 aligned with the rail 20 to allow insertion of the brace 2 into the rail 20. FIGS. 7B, 7C and 7D show the brace 2 inserted into the rail 20. The brace 2 is inserted into the rail 20 in a manner that allows the brace 2 to move telescopically within the rail 20 in the longitudinal 44 direction. Telescopic movement means the brace 2 can move in a sliding fashion when inserted into the rail 20.

Once the brace 2 is inserted into the rail 20, a picket 40 can be inserted through the slot 8 of the brace 2 and the opening 22 of the rail 20 when the slot 8 and opening 22 are aligned as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIGS. 8A and 8B show the fencing system of the exemplary embodiment in the unlocked assembled configuration. The connecting area 42 of the picket 40 is disposed within the brace 2, but is in longitudinal 44 spaced relation to the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 that comprise the connecting portion of the brace 2 in the exemplary embodiment.

In order to lock the assembled fence panel together, the brace 2 is driven in the longitudinal 44 direction relative to the rail 20. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the fencing system of the exemplary embodiment in the locked position. When the brace 2 is driven in the longitudinal 44 direction, the opening 22 of the rail 20 holds the picket 40 in place while the connecting area 42 of the picket 40 is brought into alignment with the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6. The first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 enter the holes of the connecting area 42, thereby locking the brace 2 and picket 40 of the fencing system in place by limiting further longitudinal movement of the brace 2 and further vertical movement of the picket 40. Where the first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 have a round cross-section, as in the exemplary embodiment, and do not prevent rotation of the picket 40 relative to the brace 2, the opening 22 of the rail 20 can limit rotation by limiting longitudinal movement of the picket 40.

FIG. 10 shows an assembled fence panel according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the brace 2 and rail 20 can be modified to accommodate a plurality of pickets 40.

A functionality of the exemplary embodiment that is advantageous is illustrated in FIG. 11, to wit, the assembled fence panel can be pivoted to follow a slope. This functionality follows from the differential in size of the slot 8 and opening 22. At the limit position, shown in FIGS. 11-13, the brace and rail are offset from one another in comparison to the level position such that the edges of the opening and slot are vertically offset from one another; for clarity, the span of the slot is indicated in FIG. 13 by 22′ and the span of the opening is indicated by 8′.

Whereas specific embodiments are herein described, it will be evident that variations are possible.

For example, whereas the exemplary embodiment is described as using braces 2, rails 20, and pickets 40 of generally rectangular cross-section, it is evident that other appropriate forms can be used. While the brace 2 of the exemplary embodiment has only a single horizontal side 12 it is also possible to use a second horizontal side 12 with corresponding slots 8 through which the picket 40 can be inserted. Similarly, while the rail 20 of the exemplary embodiment makes use of a horizontal wall 24 and lips 28, it is possible to use a second horizontal wall 24 with corresponding openings 22 in lieu of or in addition to the lips 28. One possible advantage of using a second horizontal wall 24 for the rail 20 would be to provide further rotational stability to the picket 40 when it is passed through the openings 22 of the two horizontal walls 24.

While it is preferable to keep the opening 22 of the rail 20 in close proximity to the slot 8 of the brace 2 during assembly as shown in the exemplary embodiment in order to minimize the rotation force applied to the picket 40 when the brace 2 is driven in the longitudinal 44 direction during the locking procedure, other embodiments may keep the opening 22 and slot 8 in vertical spaced relation.

While the exemplary embodiment makes use of a frusto-conical first protrusion 4 and a conical second protrusion 6, it is apparent that other types of protrusions can be used, including cylindrical, pyramidal, frusto-pyramidal, hemispherical, hemicylindrical, or a protrusion with a bell-shaped profile. Providing a sloped face facing the longitudinal 44 direction in which the brace moves from the locked to the unlocked position is desirable to assist the locking procedure, but is not necessary. While the exemplary embodiment makes use of a first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 for the connecting portion of the brace 2, it may be sufficient to use a single protrusion to connect the picket 40 to the brace 2. Where only a single protrusion is used, it may be sufficient for the brace 2 to have only one vertical side 14. The first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 can be of similar dimensions or of different dimensions as shown in the exemplary embodiment.

Although the connecting area 42 of the picket 40 is shown as holes that pass through the walls of the picket 40 in the exemplary embodiment, the hole of the connecting area 42 can also be formed as a recess in the picket 40 adapted to receive the first protrusion 4 or second protrusion 6 of the brace. In embodiments where the picket 40 does not have a hollow cross-section, use of a recess may be preferable.

While the exemplary embodiment uses a first protrusion 4 and second protrusion 6 as the connecting portion of the brace 2 and holes for the connecting area 42 of the picket 40, it is also possible to use holes for the connecting portion of the brace 2 and protrusions for the connecting area 42 of the picket 40. Although this alternative arrangement may make insertion of the pickets 40 into the braces 2 more difficult, it can provide the added benefit of holding the pickets 40 and the braces 2 together during assembly as a result of frictional engagement between the protrusions of the connecting area 42 of the picket 40 with the horizontal sides 12 of the brace 2.

It can be appreciated that different arrangements of pickets 40, braces 2, and rails 20 are possible to create different fence assemblies. While the exemplary embodiment shows a connecting area 42 near the top and near the bottom of the picket 40, the connecting area 42 can be positioned at different locations on the picket 40. Further connecting areas 42 can be added to the picket 40 to allow more braces 2 to be connected. Further connecting areas 42 can also allow different braces 2 to extend in opposite directions when locked to the picket 40, thereby extending the fence assembly in opposite directions. Connecting areas 42 can also be added to allow braces 2 to be locked to pickets 40 at an angle relative to other braces 2, thereby creating a corner in the fence assembly.

It can also be appreciated that the assembly can be secured to posts or the like in a conventional manner to construct gates, fences, etc.

Finally, but without limitation, there are a number of suitable, sufficiently rigid materials that can be used to manufacture the fencing system, including metal, plastic or composites, although a preferred material is weldless wrought iron, for longevity.

Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed. 

1. A fencing system, said system comprising: pickets, each picket being elongate and having one or more connecting areas; braces, each brace being elongate with a plurality of connecting portions spaced apart along the length of the brace and a slot for each connecting portion, having an unlocked position wherein one of the pickets extends through one of the slots of the brace and one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portion of the one of the slots, the slot for each connecting portion being adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the brace from the unlocked position to a locked position while the one of the pickets extends through the one of the slots of the brace wherein the one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace and aligned with the connecting portion of the one of the slots in the locked position; rails, each rail adapted to receive a brace for telescopic movement and having a plurality of openings adapted to communicate with the slots of the braces to permit through passage of the pickets and to limit longitudinal movement of the pickets; whereby a plurality of pickets, rails and braces can be assembled into a fence panel and the braces can be driven relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position to lock the fence panel together.
 2. The fencing system according to claim 1 wherein the connecting area consists of one or more protrusions and the connecting portion consists of one or more holes.
 3. The fencing system according to claim 1 wherein the connecting area consists of one or more holes and the connecting portion consists of one or more protrusions.
 4. The fencing system according to claim 1, wherein: each brace consists of two parallel vertical sides connected by a horizontal side through which the slots are formed; and each rail consists of two parallel vertical walls connected by a horizontal wall through which the openings are formed and an inwardly facing lip on each of the parallel vertical walls in vertical spaced relation to the horizontal wall.
 5. The fencing system according to claim 1, wherein: alignment of the connecting area with the connecting portion in the locked position limits vertical movement of the picket and longitudinal movement of the brace.
 6. The fencing system according to claim 5, wherein: alignment of the connecting area with the connecting portion in the locked position limits rotational movement of the picket.
 7. A method of assembling a fence panel consisting of: telescopically inserting one or more braces into a corresponding number of rails; aligning slots in each of the braces with openings in the corresponding rail to allow insertion of pickets through the slots and the openings; inserting the pickets through the slots and the openings so that the connecting areas of the pickets are disposed within the braces in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portions of the slots and the openings limit longitudinal movement of the pickets; driving the braces in a longitudinal direction relative to the corresponding rail to bring the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots, thereby locking the pickets and braces together.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein each connecting area consists of one or more protrusions and the connecting portion consists of a corresponding number of holes; and bringing the protrusions into alignment with the holes results in the protrusions entering into the holes.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein each connecting area consists of one or more holes and the connecting portion consists of a corresponding number of protrusions; and bringing the protrusions into alignment with the holes results in the protrusions entering into the holes.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein bringing the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots limits vertical movement of the pickets and longitudinal movement of the braces.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein bringing the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots limits rotational movement of the pickets. 